Tuesday night there was a trespasser on my property, or rather, the property I am currently renting. In light of recent events in the Fort (several armed robberies/assaults of college students), this proved to be considerably terrifying, as I was alone in the residence.

At approximately 12:52 a.m., as I was lying in bed watching television, there was a furious pounding on the door, which was locked and dead-bolted. This pounding was following by a few jerks of the doorknob, and a second emphatic pounding. I could see the front door shaking from the doorway of my bedroom. It wasn't a policeman, and it certainly wasn't a pizza delivery.

I feel less safe than I ever have in my entire life, and I am appalled with the so-called "protection" I was offered.Alone in the house, I immediately called 9-1-1 at 12:53 a.m. After giving the operator my information, I was instructed to calm down and stay on the line until the officer arrived. Living less than a block from Cumberland Avenue, I was moderately relieved at the thought of the police's imminent arrival.

As the minutes continued to tick by, and as I heard sirens in the distance, I figured they were on their way, and soon to arrive. Those sirens weren't for me. Sitting alone in the middle of my bed, sweating profusely and crying uncontrollably, I attempted to calm down as I distinctly heard footsteps in the leaves in the backyard outside my bedroom window.

I relayed this information to the operator, who then informed me that two officers were now on their way.

At 1:05 a.m., a full twelve minutes after I placed the initial call, two officers arrived in tandem. They came to the front door, told me that they were going to take a look around back, but they didn't seem to see anything out of place. "Was that all ma'am? If you hear anything else, you give us a call."

The officers offered no further assistance or suggestion. They did not ask if I had called a friend to come stay the night, or offer to wait for said friend's arrival. I did in fact call a friend, and she, along with her boyfriend and German shepherd, arrived in less than five minutes, though they came from Sequoyah Hills.

I feel less safe than I ever have in my entire life, and I am appalled with the so-called "protection" I was offered.

I could have accomplished more by answering the door myself after the initial encounter, armed with pepper spray and a hockey stick.